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125 firefighters work to suppress blaze near Kannah Creek Road

Firefighters expect to snuff a blaze today that began Sunday east of Kannah Creek Road.

The fire spread to 42 acres Monday morning and remained that size throughout the afternoon, according to Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management spokesman David Boyd.

Humidity and moisture left in vegetation from recent rain kept the fire from spreading naturally in areas where firefighters planned to allow it to spread, Boyd said.

“At this point, it makes the most sense to contain it while we have the resources here,” he said.

Some 125 firefighters fought Monday to suppress the west and south sides of the fire, which affected city of Grand Junction-owned land.

The rest of the fire was on U.S. Forest Service-owned land, which was the area allowed to burn.

Four fire engines and crews from Lands End Fire Protection District, the Grand Junction Fire Department, Mesa County and Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management responded to the fire after it was spotted around 1 p.m. Sunday.

A crew from western Utah joined the firefighting effort Sunday night and a hot shot crew arrived from Craig on Monday morning.

Heavy and light helicopters were used in the firefighting effort Monday.

No structures were threatened in the fire, which consumed vegetation in rugged, hard-to-reach terrain on the side of Grand Mesa.

Kannah Creek Trail, Deep Creek Trail, Drop Off Point Trail and Carson Lake are closed because of the fire.